Two crucial plays from second-rower Billy Burns helped the Sharks overcome a Sea Eagles fightback and record an important 30-14 victory at 4 Pines Park on Sunday afternoon.
After leading 14-0 at half-time, Cronulla found themselves back on level ground heading into the final 15 minutes following two tries to Manly centre Tolu Koula.
Burns, playing his third consecutive match as a replacement for the injured Teig Wilton, stepped up to turn the tide back in the Sharks' favour.
Match: Sea Eagles v Sharks
Round 10 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
8th Position
away Team
Sharks
5th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Haring after a well-placed Nicho Hynes kick into the in-goal area, Burns forced an error from Sea Eagles flyer Reuben Garrick. Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall was on the spot to touch down and put the visitors back in front.
Moments later, the underrated Burns instinctively placed a brilliant grubber to set up winger Ronaldo Mulitalo's second try and all but seal the result.
Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes was again influential, setting up his team's first two four-pointers to remain the competition leader for try assists (12) this season.
A dashing line break from second-rower Briton Nikora laid the platform for Cronulla's opening try in the 12th minute. As the defence scrambled to reset, Hynes cleverly chipped the ball into open space, with roving winger Mulitalo easily winning the race to score next to the posts.
The Sharks extended their lead in the 17th minute as prop Addin Fonua-Blake stormed into a hole from a Hynes pass to register his third try of the year.
Hynes added a penalty goal approaching half-time after winger Sam Stonestreet was collected high as he attempted to step his way to the try line.
The Sharks dominated field position to begin the second half, but momentum suddenly shifted when Sea Eagles forward Haumole Olakau'atu swooped on a loose ball to spark a scintillating long-range try that set the crowd alight.
Olakau'atu boldly kicked ahead, with the ball fortuitously bouncing into the path of Garrick. He offloaded to Jason Saab, the flanker zooming away and in turn linking with Koula to complete the dazzling play under the posts.
Cronulla lost Trindall for a 15-minute head injury assessment before the restart, bringing interchange playmaker Daniel Atkinson into the fray.
Koula made it a double in the 55th minute, busting through several would-be tacklers to set up another simple conversion for Garrick.
Manly's Luke Brooks sliced into the backfield in the ensuing set, but a desperate chase from Stonestreet was enough to rush the Sea Eagles five-eighth into an error – preventing a likely try – as he sought to find support inside.
After surviving a close call at the other end with the Sharks denied a try from a kick due to a knock on, the Sea Eagles drew level via a Garrick penalty goal.
The Sharks reclaimed the advantage in the 68th minute when Trindall landed in the right place to capitalise on great work from Hynes and Burns.
Burns then turned provider for Mulitalo before centre KL Iro iced the performance, bagging his seventh try in six appearances this season.
Cronulla will return home to Sharks Stadium for the first time since Round 4 next Saturday when they take on the high-flying Storm.
